Radio service metering system



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1,695,177 E. E. CLEMENT RADIO SERVICE METERING SYSTEI Original Filed Feb. 9, 1924 4 Sheets-Shet 4 mns-,e pavr par.

mela.: @murray Patenteavnec. 11, 192s. J 1,695,177 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD E. CLEMENT, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ASSIGNOR TO EDWARD F. COLLADAY, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

RADIO SERVICE METERING SYSTEM.

Original application filed February 9, 1924, Serial No. 691,825. Divided and this application filed August 1, 1925. serieu No. 47,548.

My invention relates to radiowire systems of broadcast distribution with special reference to the use of electric light, power, railway or other wired circuits, so that the wires may be employed for transmitting modulated waves, metering, and other purposes. This application is a division of my copending application Serial No. 691,825, tiled February 9, 1924, and relates particularly to the metering system.

I attain my object in the present case by locating a suitable type of radiophone receiving instrument at subscribers or consumers stations of wired systems, which are also preferably subscribers stations in a telephone system, either automatic or manual, and broadcast to said instruments from a central station which may be the control power station or a substation belonging to the system or the telephone central station or a substation thereof. In any case the radio operators are provided with telephone switching means whereby they can connect themselves to various radiophone stations for purposes of observation and supervision of the system. At the radiophone stations, I provide local switching connect-ions to the current mains, and through these connections when closed effect current feed to the instrument for metering, and also bring to the instruments modulated carrier current transmitted from the central station referred to. This central station is provided with amplifying and modulating apparatus for original matter, and with relaying apparatus for distributing to the local subscribers signals received from a distance. By thus organizing a combination system, it is possible to unify the service in all respects, and to make service charges on a fair and accurate basis. I may meter the service, using a simple constant speed current meter, with moans to register units of time use, or to register the number of times an instrument is used. In the latter case, the meter may bc reduced to ultimate simplicity, being in effect nothing more than a recording magnet cooperating with a suitable switch. service. In any case, it is intended that the subscribers instrument shall be adapted to receive by pure radio waves from a distance, for which no meter charge should be made, and also adapted to receive modulated waves transmitted over the wired network, for

which a charge should be made. For this purpose, I make the subscribers instrument with an antenna circuit and coupler coil, a detector tube, and preferablyvone stage of audio amplification to permit the use of a loud speaker, together with heterodyne coupler connected through switch contacts to the wired network, so that the instrument will function as a superheterodyne receiver when taking waves from both the ether and the wires. I further provide the pla-te circuit with a tickler coil, normally disconnected therefrom and the plate circuit closed on itself, but adapted to have its circuit closed through the plate when the heterodyning circuits to the wired network are broken. Thus the instrument will function as ay heterodyne receiver, or by disconnecting the heterodyne coupler and connecting the tickler coil, may be used to receive pure radio waves from distant stations direct. The meter circuit will be closed only when the heterodyne circuit is closed.

It is to be understood that the principles herein set forth are not limited to the use of lighting power or railway circuits as such, or to any particular type of telephone system, although I shall describe and cla-im herein a manual telephone exchange system of standard Western Electric type.

It is to be further understood that I am not limited to the specific circuits and connections shown by which my subscribers instrument is made a combination receiving instrument, and especially a combination of heterodyne and regenerative receivers, for the purposes stated. Such an instrument may be useful in other inventions, and it is also to be observed that the method of metering, by which a record is made of the pay service only, may be useful for various other connections.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a typical diagram showing a radiophone system combined with an electric lighting system.

Fig. 2 is a diagram of a single radiophone station and the connections to the central power station. i

Fig. 3 is a similar diagram of a modified arrangement of the system with details of the radiophone circuits.

Fig. 4 is a detail figure of a subscribers instrument equipment including a storage I contemplate employing them for a double battery. purpose, viz, for communication by telephone Fig. 5 is a simple diagram of an antenna or otherwise over the wires, and as antennas connection for the same. for the radiophone instruments, where found F ig, 6 is a diagrammatic detail of a gang expedient or desirable. This will be deswitch containing the contacts 3,/ and z of scribed hereinafter. Fig. 2. Transformers K are the substation trans- Fig. 7 is a similar detail of a modified formers and transformers K arc the house form of meter to record number of connecor pole transformers feeding the consumptions instead of time of use. tion circuit M1o from t-he house mains M.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. l is a The consumption circuits M10 carry transcondensed diagram showing an electric lating devices such as lamps L, and also lighting system with a central power stasupply current to the radiophone receivers tion C, tive transformer substatios, C', C2, RR., to be presently described. These radio- C3, C", G", consumers mains M fed from phones are all standardized and of uniform the substations, and feeder mains M, disdesign and construction and are calibrated tributing the power from the main generatand locked when installed, so as to receive on ing plant typified by G to the substations. common wave length only, i. e., the wave Atthe central station Sw indicates the usual length allotted to the broadcasting transmain switchboard, and Sw a supplemental mitter RT at the central station C. This switchboard for purposes to be described. transmitter may be located at some other 4From this board Sw communication wires point than the central power generating 35, 37, 39, 41 extend out to the substations, station, and in that case, the switchboard one pair of more accompanying each feeder Sw will obviously be located at the same cable in the ducts. At each substation a point, and distribution of the communication small switchboard S102 is provided, equipped circuits effected therefrom. Since the local with an automatic selective switch 36, 38, 40 radiophone receivers RR are all uniform and or 42, having a switch arm or wipers cons fixed as to their tuning, any tuning required nected to the incoming line 35, 37, 39 or 41, must be on the part of the transmitting operand contacts over which the wipers are ator at switchboard Sw', who is also to listen stepped in operation, to connect local lines in and observe the operation of the outlying to consumers radiophone stations. Thus at receiving instruments. substation C the switch 36 has contacts con- The central station is equipped with a nected to wires 43, 44, which extend from local oscillator OC to send waves at heterthat substation to the radiophone stations odyning frequency over the wired network 3, 44. This same substation C carries a M, through the switch 60-60a and the coufeeder main M2 to a second transformer pler CC to the switchboard Sw. These station C5, and the accompanying communi` waves may be modulated by the local moducation wire 45 extends to a switch 46 at said later LM. The central station may also substation, from which wires 47, 48 extend transmit by pure radio waves from the local to radiophone stations 47a, 48a. This suboscillator OC', and these waves may be division of the system requires an extra digit modulated by closing the switch (3Q-62, the in the number transmitted from the central waves from oscillator OC being left unoperators dial 32 or switchboard Sw at modulated if desired by opening the concentral station C, the switches 34, 36 and 46 tacts 61-6la. corresponding to first and second selectors The net result of this arrangement is that and connectors in an automatic telephone the subscribers instrument in Fig. 2 can be system. lgdtill Qfwthgswitching circgii supplied with pure radio waves over the Q rvthe operating mechanism ofthe automatic antenna 25, modulated or unmodulated, switches isgivenvherein, assuchlrcrciitfand' with heterodyning waves over the lighting swithesgare wellvlgnown, and of themselves circuits M, M2, M', either unmodulated or foi-inno part of the present invention, the modulated; and these waves may either be main feature of which as regards the comrelayed from the central office after radio munication circuits, ligjncrthe ability of amplification, or they can originate there. the cgnt1al 9iimi cem9perator t maiitomatically"H Referring now to Fig. 2 I have therein connect himself to any part of theystem shown a portion of the power and communitlirouglitliiffirimitnberofwires,com:'cation circuits, one radiophone RR, and the prising in this case a single pair from the general arrangement of a radio operator-s central station to each substation, and single switchboard employing plugs and jacks inpairs diverging therefrom to the further substead of automatic switches for connecting divisions of the system. The last link in up the communication circuits. In this case any of these circuits is the individual drop the substation operator is called up and by wire, extending from a terminal box to the means of plugs and jacks typified at P, J, building in which current is to be used. connects the central office C with any desired These drop wires are relatively short, and consumers line. Furthermore, I have shown the radio transmitter RT provided with a jack J 5 and terminal jacks J 2, J3, J 4, provided for lines to substations, whereby any consumers station (telephones being provided) may be connected to the radio transmitter for broadcasting as provided in prior co-pending application Serial Number 581,829, filed August 14, 1922, issued as Patent 1,522.357jJanuary 6, 1925, and reissued as 16,231, December 15, 1925. This enables the operators to bring in contributions to the broadcasting programme, and also to organize groups of subscribers for broadcast meetings on subjects of common interest, such as chess games, debates, etc. In such cases, the various subscribers lines 30a, 31a of any desired group are all plugged in on the same circuit 30-31 to the central broadcasting station, Where they may be put on the transmitter RT as a group through jack J 5 and suitable amplifying apparat-us.

The feeder M2 extends from transformer substation C to the house transformer K Which-supplies main M carrying lamps L. To this main a socket is connected with which a plug P cooperates to connect the feed Wires 17--18 of the radiophone receiver RR. Current for the meter RM is supplied through this circuit. This meter' as shown comprises a motor 22 driving a Veeder counter, 24, through a Worm gear 23, and taking current through branch wires 19-20. The motor may be of any standard type adapted to the current employed. In the present case alternating current at 60 cycles, single phase, is presupposed, and the motor may be a single phase synchronous or split phase machine, or any other capable of operating at constant speed on a constant potential. The Veeder counter is marked in time-use units.

In the receiving instrument, 28 is a coupler, on the in ut side of the combined heterodyne an regenerative receiver. )Vaves received over the antenna 25a pass through the tuned circuit to the tube detector td, While Waves received from the Wire circuit M pass through the closed switch contacts y to the heterodyning coupler he and thence to the detector. The combined input is detected and rectified and by the amplilier tube at delivered to the loud speaker 56 through the transformer 14. The plate circuit of the tube td is normally closed at y, which can be opened and contacts a closed to connect the tickler coil td in the plate circuit, this tickler being indnctively associated with the coupler coils 28.

To receive combined Waves over the Wires and the ether, switch a is opened and all the switch contacts y are closed; while to receive a single train of pure radio only, which would be public broadcasting service, the contacts y are all opened, and the contacts z closed. This cuts off the energizing current from the meter, cuts off the heterodyning coil lic, and connects the tickler coil, fc. It is to be noted that the subscriber in this a1'- rangement and in many other similar hookups, can receive with pratically equal eiiiciency over either circuit, by heterodyning or regeneration, but the former Will givel more satisfactory results because of the greater amount of energy and better service delivered over the Wires, for which of course a charge is made. In practice, the miscellaneous independent use of the subscribers instrument Would be covered by a flat rental charge.

It should be observed that if desired the contacts e may be closed and the associated contacts g/ may be opened, in order to add the regenerative effect to the heterodyning through the two input circuits, a separate switch being then provided for the ticklcr coil and plate circuit, instead of the gang switch contacts shown in Fig. 6.

For purposes of testing and observation, the telephone transmitter T may be located in proximity to the horn of the receiver 56. The telephone equipment shown is of magneto type, (magneto-generator and ringer being omitted) with induction coil I and receiver t. Then placed as shown and plugged through to central station C, the radio operator can listen to the receiver 56 over wires 30-30a-31--31 Referring now to Fig. 3, I have shown therein part of a system similar to that of Fig. 2, but employing an ordinary telephone exchange line 15-16 for a communication circuit. In this case the radio operator at station C has a telephone T t connected to a telephone exchange switchboard CX from which lines 15-16 extend to subscribers stations A. To listen in to the radiophone receiver at any consumers station. the radio operator calls the exchange and is plugged through by means of jacks JX, Jy or equivalent terminals. In this figure the main generating plant of the system is indicated at C, with feeders M and a house main M supplying lamps L. The circuits M-M typify the usual distribution system. At the consumers station A the details of the radiophone receiver RR are shown. In this instrument, l indicates balancing resistances, 2 the radio frequency transformers, 3 the audio .frequency transformers, 4 is a telephone transformer, 5 the armature of a loud speaking receiver, 6 the field of the loud speaker, 7 a vacuum tube rectifier'. S a plate voltage tube rectifier, 9 (as stated) the power transformer. 10 the filament rheostat, 11 a condenser of one microfarad capacity, 12 a leak resistance, 13 a smoothing condenser of ten microfarads capacity, and 14 a step down transformer for the loud speaker. No claim is made herein to this instrument or its circuits, and it is presented as typical only of any instrument suitable for use with the current supplied to the mains M.

The antenna circuit is complete from ground S29 and coil 28 or the equivalent, by wire to plug P, and so to the lighting means which thus become part of the antenna. I have shown condensers 26-27 of small capacity in this circuit, but any other' known means of preventing current leakage from the lighting means may be employed.

For rendering measured service, meter RM is provided, its circuit wires 19-20 bcing bridged across the main feed wires 17-18 of the radiophone set. The constant speed meter 22, eears Q3 and counter 24 are the same as befbre. The meter records time-use, as the circuit 17--18 is closed only when the radiophone is in service. An advantage in having the meter forming a. part of the instrument equipment is that the entire equipment is thereby made portable and may be carried to any point where jacks J11 or J" are installed, in the same or another building, and the service will be uniformly metered for all such use. In order to permit such portable use, and for other purposes to be explained, the various parts are assembled in two separate units, as illustrated in Fig. 4, wherein RU is a box containing the power supply, including in the case described, the special transformer 9, with five windings and the rectifier tubes 7 and 8; and AU is a separate box containing the amplifier tubes, amplifier transformers, and other apparatus. By thus dividing the set, two advantages are gained. viz the amplifier is removed from immediate proximity to the power supply apparatus, from which itmight pick up a hum, and second, the power supply box can be made interchangeable with others containing different sources of supply, such as a set of storage batteries or a special equipment for ada ting 110 volt direct current supply to the eed circuits of filaments and plates, etc. For this purpose a small motor transformer may be employed, or suitable rheostats and switches. In any case the meter motor is placed in the same box RU with the power equipment and the dial arranged in the side of the box to be read from the outside. V'Vhere the box contains a storage battery, the meter is thus made a part of the battery unit RU and taken to a central station or service station for charging. I contemplate organizing this service on such a basis that three classes can be provided for: first, those consumers who have alternating current supply on their premises, as herein illustrated; second, those who have direct current supply only, usually located in a limited business area near the power station, or in a small system; and third those who have no current supply, such as suburban residents and farmers.

The third class will use an RIU unit with suitable storage batteries for the filament and plate circuits, meter, etc., and periodically take the unit to a designed service station of the lighting or power company for charging, where the meter will be read and the record of such readings will be periodically used in billing for the service. To save time in such cases, and according to similar practice in other lines of business the battery units RU may all be made interchangeable, and the meter readings of each unit will be recorded, on receipt and delivery. By this mea-ns, a discharged battery can be exchanged at the service station for a freshly charged battery without delay. As the keeping of such records is in accordance with well known principles, detailed description is unnecessary. I lay no claim herein to a detachable power unit broadly, but I shall claim herein the interchangeable unit feature, whereby different sources of current supply may be furnished for a standard AU unit or instrument, and shall also claim the mounting of the meter as a part of the )ower supply unit so that it will always urnish a record of time use. An incidental feature of this arrangement is that the box containing any RU unit may be sealedI` so that the battery, transformers. switches. rheostats and meters are secured against interference and the meter readings thereby made dependable.

A fourth class might be added to the foregoing, including those who have no direct connection to the lighting or power mains, but have local current supply of their own. This includes suburban and other places equipped with so-called farm lighting outlits. The voltage of such small generating plants is not usually standard, but lower than that on the city distribution systems, hence special RU units must be provided for such service, preferably containing storage batteries to give standard voltages, and a suitable charging set. In any case, regular or special, the meter forms a part of the power supply unit of the radiophone, and is always connected, as herein described, when the instrument is in use. Where standard municipal current supply is available the inspectors who read the lighting meters wil also read the radiophone meters.

Returning to Fig. 1, the drop wires such as 43, 44, 45, leading from the local distribution centers or substations to the consumers radiophone stations, may be used as antennae instead of the separate antennae indicated in Fig. 2, or the lighting mains indicated in Fig. 3. In such case plug and jack connections similar to P-Ja of Fig. 3 may be employed, or the. antenna connection may be permanent, the drop wire being connected direct to the wire 25 in Fig. 3, with or without the interposit-ion of small capacity condensers, as may be found desirable. The result of making such a connection is shown in a typical diagram in Fig. 5, wherein RR is the radiophone, C the central office, 30-31 the coinunication wire, and T the central opcrators telephone. The communication wires 30-31 are here shown connected also to the secondary circuit of the loud speaking 'transformer on the audio side of the set. so that no telephone is required at the radiophone station. The circuit 30--31 is thus at once antenna and an extension of the local radio receiving circuit, over which the operator can test and listen directly.

In the system of Fig. 2, a subscriber desiring radio service, plugs his set in on the line M1 through means of the plug P, which supplies power to his receiving set RR through conductors 17-18 and to the meter motor 22 through branch wires 19-20. The meter therefor starts into operation and continues to record the length of time the connection is maintained. The receiver RR, being supplied with power will now pick up the broadcast signaling to which it is tuned through the antenna circuit 25a-28 and translate it into amplified audible signals through the transformer 14 and loud speaker 5G in a manner as will be understood by those skilled in the art. In the present instance the receiver RR is tuned to the transmitting station RT so that broadcast matter is received therefrom.

Should the subscriber desire connection with the central office C he can do so through the use of his telephone set T, t over the line 30a-31% through the plug and jack connection J G-PG at the substation C1 and over line 3G-31, to station C, all in the usual manner as well understood in the art of telephone communication, details such as switching and signalling means and their use being omitted from the drawing and description for the sake of clearness. Similarly, the central station operator may be connected with the subscribers telephone set over the line 30-31 and 30"-31a through the substation C1. Thus the subscriber may communicate with the central station for information or to report condition of service. When it is desired to have the subscriber broadcast, the above described connection is established and further extended through jacks J2 and J5 and suitable cord and plug connections, not shown, to the radio transmitter RT.

For supervision of the quality of reception by the subscribers radio receiver, and controlling the quality of reception, the operator at the central station C makes use of the telephone connection above described to listen in on the audio reproduction from the subscribers loud speaker through the transmitter T, which observation enables the operator to adjust the transmitting to the subscribers instruments which latter are permanently tuned to a common predetermined wave length.

Where storage batteries are used as a source of power supply with the time use meter a part of the power supply unit, as indicated in Fig. 4 the operation is similar to that previously described except that instead of the subscriber connecting with the common distributing system he connects his set with the portable source of power supply, receiving the signalling energy through his independent aerial as in Figs. 1 and 2, or a distributing system used as an aerial as in Figs. 3 and 5.

I claim:

1. In a system of the class described, a power distributing station, and a current supply circuit extending therefrom a broadcasting station associated therewith, a subscribers radiophone having a detector, two input circuits therefor and a loca] meter circuit, and means associated with said radiophone for connecting said radiophone circuits tovsaid supply circuit for simultaneously supplying current therefrom to the meter and passing modulated waves from the supply circuit to one of said detector input circuits.

2. In a system of the class described, a power distributing station, and a current supply circuit extending therefrom, a broadcasting station associated therewith, a subscribers radiophone having a detector, two input circuits therefor and a local meter circuit, and switching means associated with the radiophone for connecting the meter circuit with said supply circuit, with means for simultaneously passing therefrom to one of said detector circuits modulated high frequency current waves.

3. A radiophone system comprising a power supply service, a subscribers radiophone instrument having a detector circuit, two input circuits therefor adapted to receive modulated waves and a meter attached to and forming part of the instrument, with terminal switching means connected to said power supply service, and cooperating switching means connected to one of said input circuits and to said meter circuit.

4. A radiophone system comprising a subscribers radiophone instrument having a detector circuit, two input circuits therefor, adapted to receive modulated waves and a meter attached to and forming part of the equipment, with a source of current supply and means acting to connect the same to the meter circuit whenever one of said input circuits is closed.

5. In a system of the class described, a. power distributing station, a current supply circuit extending therefrom, a broadcasting station associated therewith, a subscribers radiophone having a detector, an input circuit therefor and a local meter circuit, and means associated with said radiophone for connecting said radiophone circuits to said supply circuit for simultaneously supplying energizing current therefrom to the meter and passing modulated waves from the supply circuit to said detector input circuit.

6. In a system of the class described, a

power distributing station, and a distribut ing network extending therefrom, with outlets or connecting devices at a plurality of points on said network, a broadcasting station adapted to distribute modulated waves over said network, and a subscribers' re- Hough ceiving instrument for said waves, comprising a self-contained portable receiving set with a terminal adapted to be connected with any of said outlets or any connecting devices interchangeably, for the reception of modulated waves therefrom, and a meter, with means to drive the same controlled through said terminal and energized whenever the receiving set is connected to the network.

rIn testimony whereof I hereunto aix my signature.

EDWARD E. CLEMENT. 

